Carlin GlescaPal 1

My grandparents were Alex & Isabella Dow and Robert & Jeannie Herd

Granny Dow This is my grandmother (circa 1900), Isabella Young Dow, who lived in 201 London Rd. Bridgeton. She was widowed fairly young (my Dad could not recall his father, who was from Banff, a painter & decorator, Alexander Dow) and although she was left with four young children to bring up, she was always regarded by her neighbours as a bit of a toff. See the style of her clothes.	Grandparents Herd Robert & Jeannie Herd who lived at 191 Fordneuk St. Bridgeton

My parents, Mary Herd & Andrew Dow were married in my grandfather Herd's front room at 191 Fordneuk Street on 25th June 1925 and their first home was a single-end at the same address, where the first three of their five children were born.

They moved to a corporation house with a bathroom at 16 Sunnybank Street Dalmarnock in 1935 where another two additions to the family came along.

I was born there on 23rd August 1938, the youngest of their five children.

My father was a riveter in John Brown's Shipyard in Clydebank. He worked on the big liners, including the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth.

I attended Springfield Road School and Dalmarnock Church, Sunday School and Girls Guildry. I also remember attending The Orange Lodge and participating in the juvenile Orange Walk. My primary teacher Miss Blackwood gave me elocution lessons and entered me into verse speaking competitions in St. Andrews Halls, where I had some small success.

The Dow family Mary & Andrew with their 5 children taken c1941

Baby Mary in her Mother's arms sitting on the fence.

Springfield Primary School, Dalmarnock, 1947
I am the wee girl sitting at the front on the right

This is my big brother Robert Dow, taken in 1948 when he was doing his National Service in the REME. He spent a lot of his service time in Cowglen Military Hospital as he contracted pneumonia. He worked as a caulker in John Brown's Shipyard, then in UCS etc. He was very active in his Union and had a special presentation for 50 years service. He latterly lived in Clydebank, but he and his wife Jeannie used to live in Beechgrove Street. They met at Riverside School, (Jeannie lived in Lily Street when we were in Sunnybank Street.) Sadly, he passed on in 2004.

In 1948 we moved to Priesthill and I went to Levern School in Nitshill, Abbotsford School in the Gorbals, as the corporation built lots of houses but no schools in Priesthill!!!
After passing my "quali" I went to Shawlands Academy and was studying Latin & French. My father had high hopes of me going to university, but I had other ideas!!!

	I left school aged 15 and went into office work. I worked at 146 Argyle Street at Lever Bros - then I got made redundant!!
Shawlands Academy class 1L2 (c1951)

I was transferred to
The British Oil & Cake Mills
in Renfrew where I worked
until my marriage to Robert
on 25th Oct 1958.

Robert and I had met 2 years
previously at the dancing
when I had come to Leven
on holiday. He was a coal miner.

The British Oil & Cake Mills
Staff Dance 1957

Mr & Mrs Robert & Mary Cairns

Yes - I had "The works" - but small by today's standards. 75 guests for a sit-doon meal at The Cameo Ballroom in Shawlands, after the ceremony in Priesthill Parish Church on 25.10.58
(2008 we had an even bigger do when we renewed our vows)